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People love to say this. But it's total mythology.

For the vast majority of people living in LA, the bus is not an option. Your 30 minute commute will turn into a 3 hour slog.

Freedom of location is severely limited once you have a significant other or kids. School districts in LA are total garbage, and having a significant other means at least one of you is going to be commuting across town and sitting in traffic for 2 hours a day.

> most people don't do this

I guess all that traffic on the 10, 101, 110, 5, and 405 is just some collective hallucination. I was shocked when I found a number of people commuting to Irvine from such places as DTLA. That is, until I found people commuting to San Diego. Those are the rare ones (I hope). But there is a large portion of LA that commutes 2-3 hours a day. Anyone that commutes from the westside to east (or vice versa) is hitting 2 hours easy. I did it for a number of years. And by looking at Santa Monica Blvd, Wilshire, Olympic, etc. many more people are doing the same.

I will never take a job in Santa Monica. Unless you live in SM, it's not worth it.




And rents in SM are comparable to anywhere on the peninsula, which negates any cost advantage anyone thinks they might have going south anyway.

This is why I'm sticking to supporting the startup scene around DC instead.


Wait what? D.C. Is incredibly expensive and also hasn't some of the worst traffic in the country.

I love D.C. But not sure I'm following your reasoning here....


Not as much with cities like Arlington and Tyson's Corner, which is where a lot of startup activity is taking place.


> I will never take a job in Santa Monica. Unless you live in SM, it's not worth it.

Precisely. This is a lifestyle choice you choose not to make. But others do.




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